The Spirit of Elijah (8/2/2010)

Yesterday as I sat in front of my computer trying to decipher the handwriting on the 1900 Census of the United States for Ritchie County, West Virginia, my 13 year old daughter came up and asked me what I was doing. The new Family Search page has been a great tool and has made it easier for me to get names ready to take to the temple, something that I have never done before because most of our family history had already been done. With the passing of my grandfather a few years ago, I felt a need to work on his genealogy and, hopefully, perform some temple work along the way.

The process of putting these names together can be time consuming, and over the past month I have only been able to process just under 30 names for the temple work. When I processed the first group of names, I told my daughter that she could perform baptisms for the women in this group which made her happy, but since then the pace of my work has kept me from making any other exciting announcements.

I showed her how to do what I was doing, and then she asked for a chance to try. I let her do it while I monitored her work, and after inserting a few names then selecting the option to prepare these names for the temple, she got very excited and even though we had to stop so I could make dinner, she wanted to continue. The fact that she was able to take information recorded by someone over a century ago and convert that to work for her ancestors definitely caught her interest, and I anticipate several more Sundays working together on this.

I share this experience with you because to me it is another testimony that the power of the Spirit of Elijah as described in Malachi 4:5-6 is alive and well today. When I think of teenagers and their interest in their music and fashions and "hanging out," it seems unlikely to me that finding the names of people who are long dead would not have great appeal. Instead, my daughter appears to have caught that spirit to her benefit as well as to the benefit of those who have accepted the Gospel on the other side.

Missionary Work (7/21/2010)

I would like to apologize for the lack of thoughts recently. Between my work and my personal life, I find it hard to find the few minutes every day to share something. I will keep working to provide a daily thought, but in the meantime, I hope that you will be patient with me.

Last week I had the opportunity to attend girl's camp with our ward as a priesthood leader. My niece who is not LDS came to the camp with me and my daughter and had a wonderful time. I am not entirely sure how she feels about the Church - I know that my sister frequently has the missionaries over - but I hope that with the good experiences there and the friends she made that she will come to see more of what the Church has to offer.

So many times when we talk about missionary work, it can evoke feelings of fear. The thought of approaching friends and family and talking about religion can be a challenge, especially where so many in the world today would rather not have religion in their lives. I was reminded by my experience last week, however, that missionary work does not have to be about pressuring people to accept something they would rather not have. Through being a good example and a true friend, we will have an impact for good on the lives of others. Then when they see the joy that the Gospel brings into our lives, our friends and family will be more inclined to explore the Church of Jesus Christ without the awkward feeling that we might otherwise have.

The Temporary Nature of Life (6/29/2010)

Like many individuals in the world, I have been caught up lately with the World Cup. I like soccer growing up, and serving my mission in Spain gave me a whole new appreciation of the game and just how popular it is. While it has been fun to watch the teams from various parts of the world, I obviously followed the U.S. side closely during their run. One of the most difficult things to watch, however, was how they would fall behind early, giving up goals within the first 15 minutes in 3 of the 4 matches they played. In their elimination round game on Saturday they fell behind early, fought back to tie it, then fell behind again quickly in overtime, and in the end they ran out of time and opportunities and failed to advance.

This is the same with life. Everything that we face here is of a temporal nature, and sooner or later our time here will end. Amulek said it best when he said:

"For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors... therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.

"Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world." (Alma 34:32-34)

I hope that we will take advantage of our time here and do all we can today so that when our time is up we can gain the prize that awaits us.

Life To The Fullest (6/22/2010)

On the way to work this morning, I saw a bumper sticker that read "Live your life to the fullest or die trying." I have been pretty frustrated with several things going on in my life lately, and this bumper sticker served as something of a wake up call. It is easy to let the trials that we face drag us under, yet as my wife reminded me last night after one of my rants, we did not choose to come here to fail.

We were given the chance to come to this Earth with the idea that we would become like our Father in Heaven. I imagine that we understood - at least in part - the challenges we would face here, yet the potential reward we would gain made it seem worth the effort. Once we came here, however, the perspective that caused us to rejoice when the Plan of Salvation was announced was lost, and it can be a challenge to find here the optimism we once had. Our Father has offered to help us through, and gives us the gift of the Holy Ghost to give us guidance as we live worthily, but in the end it is up to us to live our lives as best we can... or die trying.

Finding True Happiness (6/15/2010)

"Much of life's disappointment comes from looking beyond the mark, from seeking success and happiness where it cannot be found. When wealth, position, influence, and power become measures of success in life, we should not be disappointed when their attainment does not produce the satisfaction and blessings promised for fulfillment of the commandments of the Lord.

"The Savior declared as His work and glory 'to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.' (Moses 1:39) He enthroned love for one another, service to a neighbor, and building the kingdom of God for His glory and majesty as noble worthy goals that produce rewards beyond all power of expression." - Elder Richard G. Scott

My cell phone contract is up to be renewed. Because of this, my carrier is doing everything it can to sell me on the latest and greatest phone so that my life can be complete. I will admit that I am a bit of a sucker for this, and that being able to search the web or get my e-mail on my phone is a draw, but as I have been considering my options, I am bothered by two facts. First, in order to get the latest and greatest phone at a price that I have to commit myself to that company for two years. Failure to keep that commitment will cost me a great deal of money - far more, in fact, than the full price of the phone. The second thing is that no matter how new my phone is, within a matter of weeks it will be outdated and inferior to the latest offering. If I allow it, then, having a phone can become a constant battle of trying to avoid becoming ensnared by the cell phone company while trying to keep up with technology.

I think that Elder Scott's quote describes the problem quite clearly. It is easy to be caught up in the things of the world, but in order for them to bring us the happiness we so deeply crave, we must extend ourselves further and further, essentially making constant investments in things which "moth and dust doth corrupt." If we invest our energies in following the example of the Savior, however, and seek to help those around us instead of serving our own whims, today as well as in the end, we will enjoy true happiness.

Ordinances and Commitment (6/14/2010)

I had the opportunity yesterday to substitute for my Gospel Essentials class. The lesson was on baptism which led to an interesting discussion about principles and ordinances. The conclusion we reached was that an ordinance is an external manifestation of an inner commitment that comes from the principles we are taught.

One of the cautions given, however, is to make sure that such commitments are made "...with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent..." (see 2 Nephi 31:12-13) We can go through the motions of being baptized, of taking the Sacrament each week, but if we are not sincere about the commitments we make, our Father will not be fooled and our participation in these ordinances will mean little.

I don't share this thought by means of passing judgement - there are plenty of times when I need to pay close attention to my level of commitment as well. I just hope that as we renew our baptismal covenants each week, we will remember that this is a reflection of a commitment that comes from within.

Faith and The Atonement (6/7/2010)

When Enos, the son of Jacob, approached our Father in Heaven in sincere prayer, he was told that his sins would be forgiven. Enos wondered what qualified him for such a blessing when he was told:

"Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole. (Enos 1:8)

I thought about this verse recently and wondered about whether or not I have enough faith. I know that God lives and that He is mindful of me in spite of the fact that I, like Enos, have never seen nor heard the Lord. The difference, I realized, was the fact that Enos demonstrated his faith through sincere prayer, where perhaps my actions, be they through prayer or obedience, are not what they should be. I do know that our sins can be forgiven, and I am thankful for the Atonement. It is my prayer that we can all have faith like Enos so that the Atonement can play the same role in our life as it did for him.

Death (5/19/2010)

I have to admit that coming up with a thought today is more difficult than usual. One of the individuals with whom I work here at the University of Utah Hospital - someone who has subscribed to this list since its inception - suddenly passed away this morning at work. I have not seen much of him in recent years since we both moved offices to different locations, but it does not diminish the reality and the hurt of his death.

When my mother passed away 11 years ago, I was comforted then as I am today by the knowledge that this life is just a stepping stone along a much longer path. I feel bad for those who do not understand this, and who feel that when they die it is the end of everything. The time of separation from those who are left behind is painful as we remember the good that these people brought into our lives, but we are fortunate to have been taught that the end of our life here marks the opportunity to reunite with loved ones and await the day when we, because of the Atonement, can be resurrected and "in (the) flesh... see God." (see Job 19:26)

Death (5/19/2010)

I have to admit that coming up with a thought today is more difficult than usual. One of the individuals with whom I work here at the University of Utah Hospital - someone who has subscribed to this list since its inception - suddenly passed away this morning at work. I have not seen much of him in recent years since we both moved offices to different locations, but it does not diminish the reality and the hurt of his death.

When my mother passed away 11 years ago, I was comforted then as I am today by the knowledge that this life is just a stepping stone along a much longer path. I feel bad for those who do not understand this, and who feel that when they die it is the end of everything. The time of separation from those who are left behind is painful as we remember the good that these people brought into our lives, but we are fortunate to have been taught that the end of our life here marks the opportunity to reunite with loved ones and await the day when we, because of the Atonement, can be resurrected and "in (the) flesh... see God." (see Job 19:26)

A Reason to Hope (5/18/2010)

"How important it is that we heed the voice of a living prophet and conform our lives to the gospel of Jesus Christ! Even though the outlook for peace is bleak in the world today, it is not a time for despair. We live in a day when change can be effected very rapidly. The Lord has blessed us with a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ and has also led us to an understanding of the technology that can bring about this change. This is a time not for despair but for preparation, courage, and action." - Elder L. Tom Perry

These words, written over twenty years ago, are more true today than ever. The pace of the world seems to grow faster and faster, and the hope of a world of peace and goodness seems to dim each day. The words of the prophets teach us, however, that there is more to this life than the day to day drudgery that we experience. As long as we are willing to stand up for that which is good and right and prepare ourselves for the life to come, we have reason to hope for a much brighter future.

Enjoy the moment (5/12/2010)

Last night I was at the church when the bishop walked in. Since it was another rainy and cold day here, he wondered aloud whether summer would ever come. As one who is not particularly fond of summer (I can always dress up against the cold. Heat is another matter altogether.), his question made me stop to think about how often I am so anxious to move onto the next thing that I miss what is going on around me. It reminded me of a job I had while in college. Every afternoon my co-workers and I would spend our 15 minute break going out and watching the sunset. We didn't normally have much to say. We just sat and appreciated being in that moment, enjoying the beauty of the world.

Let me qualify my previous anecdotes by stating that we do need to keep an eye on our eternal goals. Without that vision it is easy to lose our way. I think it is important to stop and enjoy where we are as well. Our Father in Heaven created this beautiful world for us. He gave us a wide variety of landscapes, weather, friends, and many other things to make our lives here full and rich. We may not fully appreciate everything that comes our way - just like the bishop would prefer warm weather instead of the rain - but I hope that we will stop today and be thankful for all the good we do have.

What Would You Do? (5/5/2010)

"I would give ANYTHING to..." How often do we hear a sentence that starts like that? Most of the time that statement is rhetorical, as there are probably plenty of things that one would not do in exchange for having that wish fulfilled, but it does beg the question - what would we do? When the discussion comes around to gaining the ultimate prize of returning to our Father in Heaven what are we willing to do then?

The young man who asked the Savior had such a question. He had followed the commandments and apparently had led a good life, yet when the Savior asked him to sell all that he had, give the money to the poor, and follow Him, the young man went away sad because that seemed too difficult. (see Matthew 19:16-22) So what do we need to give in order to gain eternal life?

Balak, a king of Moab, once asked the same question, and this is the answer he received: "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:8) Stated a different way, if we hope to gain the prize, we must give a "broken heart and a contrite spirit." (3 Nephi 9:20) Our innate desire to choose our own way might make this a gift more difficult to give than all of our money and possessions, but in the end such a gift will be more meaningful than any other we can offer.

Acting in Accordance with Our Beliefs (5/3/2010)

Elder Robert D. Hales once gave a speech in which he counseled "Remember who you are and act accordingly." He then followed that advice with this:

"Sometimes I think we go through life in a speedboat. As we go through the harbors of life, we never look over our shoulders at the sailboats and the lifeboats and the dinghies that are swamped in the wake of our actions. I would hope that you'd start looking over your shoulder."

No decision we make happens in a vacuum. Everything we do has an impact on those around us for good or for evil whether we see it or not. That is why it is crucial to remember to behave according to the standards that the Savior has established for us. If we are careful about the decisions we make, we can be assured that our actions will not have a negative influence on those around us, and ultimately we will have less worry about when the time comes for us to give an account about how we lived our lives.

Judging (4/30/2010)

One of my favorite things to do is cook. I especially love cooking for other people, as many are surprised that I, as a guy, can make something other than macaroni and cheese or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Today I have put on a crock pot of chili for our ward chili cookoff, and honestly I have no idea how I will fare in the judging this time around. I am using a recipe that won me second place in the cookoff two years ago (my other entry won first that night), but if past experience is any indicator, I will not do as well this time around. I say this because I submitted my two-years-ago first place entry in last year's cookoff, and it didn't even place. Of course there was none left to take home, so people didn't necessarily hate it, but it just goes to show that when it comes to judging, people's tastes vary. With all that said, if people like what I made, I will be happy.

As I was preparing the chili last night and trying to decide how to season it, I started thinking about the way our Father in Heaven judges us. While this might not be an ideal comparison, I did realize that we judge situations and individuals according to our own experiences and biases. Our Father, on the other hand, sees beyond our facade and knows who we really are. (see Mosiah 4:30, Isaiah 55:8-9) Because He understands that, He will always judge us fairly because He knows if we have truly put forth our best effort.

Enjoy The Ride (4/28/2010)

"Life is like an old-time rail journey - delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders, and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed. The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride." - Jenkin Lloyd Jones

In our world of instant gratification, people are always looking for that next thrill. There seems to be an endless search for happiness, looking for those things that please the natural man. Movies and television programs promise us that if we choose to partake of the things of the world that our lives will be better. Of course these rarely portray the seedier side of the world. Alcoholism, drug addiction, or the pain caused by extra-marital affairs is rarely exposed, yet with glib indifference the characters of these shows demonstrate how these things supposedly contribute to a better life.

Our lives are meant to be challenging. Our purpose here is to learn how to become like our Father in Heaven, and this can only be achieved through obedience to His commandments. None of us here can expect to have a life devoid of problems, and those who adopt the ways of the world to avoid their problems will often find that their issues are larger than the ones they started out trying to avoid. I hope that we can take the advice in this quote and, when things are not as smooth as we might like them, we will remember that it is all just part of our experience here.

Trials (4/26/2010)

This past Friday, our family entered a new phase of our life. My wife, after taking 12 years off to start our family, received her college degree. The past two semesters have been particularly difficult, as all of us in the family have made sacrifices in order for her to realize this dream. There were plenty of evenings when I would come home from work only to find that my day was just beginning instead of ending. To make a long story short, these past few years I have found myself in the dense forest, often able to see only the trees around me.

I don't say these things to complain. I simply wanted to use this experience as an example of a life lesson I have learned. When trying to focus on attaining the goal we came to this Earth to achieve, we will always encounter obstacles. Sometimes - as has happened to me lately more often that I care to admit - overcoming the individual obstacles becomes the focus instead of reaching the overall goal. What I have learned and am working to bring my life back around to is the fact that as long as we are doing those things we need to do to return to live with our Father in Heaven, all of the other obstacles will melt away.

Trials come to an end. The challenges we face today will be a distant memory next week or next month or next year. In fact, those may be the very things upon which we look back and laugh, or even realize how much stronger they made us. The important thing I have (re)discovered is the importance of focusing on the things that will matter most in the end.

Never Give Up (4/20/2010)

In his second epistle to his son Moroni, Mormon reminds his son "And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God." (Moroni 9:6) The conditions under which Mormon wrote these words were appalling at best. Men had lost all love for each other as demonstrated by the fact that they were more interested in killing one another and engaging in all manner of depraved acts. It was clear that even Mormon didn't have much hope that he could make a difference to the Nephites, but still he tried.

There are plenty of times that it seems like it would be easier to give up than to keep going. For example, I have several elderly neighbors who are not members of the church who have expressed no interest in the church. It would be easy to just ignore them because they are entirely different than we are, yet we still do what we can to be good neighbors and good examples. None of them has ever come to church, nor do I think that there is a chance that they ever will, but by opening the door and being their friends, who knows what good might come of it. Just because the task seems impossible doesn't necessarily mean it is, and as Mormon reminds us, we need to do as much as we are able.

The Atonement (4/15/2010)

"The gospel of the Savior is not simply about avoiding bad in our lives; it also is essentially about doing and becoming good. And the Atonement provides help for us to overcome and avoid bad and to do and become good. There is help from the Savior for the entire journey of life - from bad to good to better and to change our very nature."
- Elder David A. Bednar

One of the main things non-members with whom I interact focus on is the things that we, as members of the church, are not allowed to do. Things like the Word of Wisdom and tithing come up (even though these elements exist in many other religions as well), and they wonder how I can choose to live such a life. Of course, many of these same conversations talk about how friendly Mormon's are, and those who are better acquainted with the Church comment on how they are impressed with our humanitarian efforts.

As Elder Bednar suggests, the church is not just about denying ourselves worldly things. It is about improving ourselves - about becoming perfect (see Matthew 5:48). On their website, the Church now has sections that talk about how we can become more independent through avoiding the shackles of the world such as debt and addiction, how we can prepare ourselves for whatever contingencies might arise in our lives, and in short about improving our life. Of course, all of these temporal preparations will avail us nothing without the Atonement. As we strive to become perfect, we will make mistakes. Because of the Atonement, however, we can overcome those errors and have hope that the path we are on will lead us towards perfection and our Heavenly home.

Doing All We Do in His Name (4/13/2010)

"Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore." (Moses 5:8)

I have come across several verses in Moses 5 recently that have made me think. When I read this one, I understood it in a context that I had never thought about it before. It is easy to think of saying prayers and carrying out church callings in the name of Jesus Christ. When I apply that same thought to the idea that everything I do - from my work to the way I parent to the activities in which I engage - should be done in His name, it takes on an entirely new meaning.

Suddenly I realized that I need to be much more selective about the way I act and think. It made me start to question which of my actions were worthy to be done in His name, and as I consider those actions that are not worthy, I now see room for improvement in my life. Is there anything new in this concept? No, but this scripture reminded me in a different way the importance of my actions.

Playing Our Best Part (4/12/2010)

One of the things of which I am most guilty is procrastination. For whatever reason, there are plenty of times in my life when I look at what needs to be done, become overwhelmed, and then find something else that needs to be done which is easier and, in all likelihood, less important. While taking the easy path might seem better at the moment when it is chosen, in the end, it leaves undone things for which one day I will have to account. This was brought home to me forcefully recently when I read a talk by Elder Holland in which he paraphrases an essay from C.S. Lewis entitled "The World's Last Night."

"The doctrine of the Second Coming teaches us that we do not and cannot know when Christ will come and the world drama will end. He may appear and the curtain may be rung down at any moment. This kind of not knowing seems to some people intolerably frustrating. So many things would be interrupted. Perhaps you were going to get married next month. Perhaps you were to graduate this spring. Perhaps you were thinking of going on a mission or paying your tithing or denying yourself some indulgence. Surely no good and wise God would be so unreasonable as to cut all that short. Not now, of all moments!

"But we think this way because we keep on assuming that we know the play. In fact, we don't know much of it. We believe we are on in Act II, but we know almost nothing of how Act I went or how Act III will be. We are not even sure we know who the major and who the minor characters are. The Author knows. The audience, to the extent there is an audience of angels filling the loge and the stalls, may have an inkling. But we, never seeing the play from the outside, and meeting only the tiny minority of characters who are 'on' in the same scenes as ourselves, largely ignorant of the future and very imperfectly informed about the past, cannot tell at what moment Christ will come and confront us. We will face him one day, of that we may be sure; but we waste our time in guessing when that will be. That this human drama has a meaning we may be sure, but most of it we cannot yet see. When it is over we will be told. We are led to expect that the Author will have something to say to each of us on the part that each of us has played. Playing it well, then, is what matters most. To be able to say at the final curtain 'I have suffered the will of the Father in all things' is our only avenue to an ovation in the end."

Rewards for Our Efforts (4/6/2010)

I was thinking the other day about all of the things we are commanded to do. Pray. Study our Scriptures. Attend the temple. Work on our family history so we have something to do at the temple. Attend church. Do our home teaching and visiting teaching. Hold regular family home evenings. I could go on, but I think that you all pretty well know the list. And it seems like the more we do, the more we are asked to do.

It can be overwhelming, but then I realized that with such work comes the inevitable blessings. The means to accomplish what has been asked of us will always be there. (see 1 Nephi 3:7) We have been promised that as we do what is asked of us, we will receive the blessings according to our faithfulness. (see Doctrine and Covenants 82:3, 130:20) And the greatest comfort of all is that as we strive to do good, the Lord has promised that He will "go before (us); he will be with (us), he will not fail (us), neither forsake (us): fear not, neither be dismayed." (Deuteronomy 31:8) I hope that as we work our hardest to become perfect that we will see these blessings in our lives.

Learning from General Conference (4/5/2010)

I enjoyed listening to General Conference this past weekend. While there were many things that I took from the messages presented, one of the best was from President Uchtdorf's talk on patience in the Priesthood session. From his talk:

"Patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring... staying with something and doing all we can - working, hoping and exercising faith."

I talked afterwards with my oldest son who attended the meeting with me about this talk (since patience is one of those things both he and I could use help with). His reaction was that he had failed to reach the mark established by President Uchtdorf, but I pointed out to him that he cannot have failed because he has not yet reached the end of his life. The messages we hear at General Conference are not meant to condemn us for our shortcomings (though it may sometimes feel as though they are). They are intended to teach us, to remind us of what we need to do moving forward. I understand where my son was coming from, but with his comment, I realized that as long as I wake up every morning, I have the chance to apply what I have been taught and strive to become better.

Seeing Who We Really Are (4/1/2010)

In the March First Presidency message entitled "Moral Courage," Elder Eyring made a statement that really made me think:

"Before we were born, we knew God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, personally. We could see Them and listen to Them as They taught and encouraged us. Now a veil has been placed over our minds and memories. Satan, the father of lies, has an advantage because we must see the reality of who we are through the eyes of faith, while our bodies make us subject to carnal temptation and to physical weakness."

I think that we all struggle at one time or another with the idea that we are not as good as we could be. There are always times we wish we were smarter, wish we were better looking, wish we could lose those additional pounds... the list goes on. When I read this statement, however, it occurred to me that one of Satan's great lies is that we will never be good enough.

If we take a step back and try to see ourselves as our Father in Heaven sees us, we will realize that He does not view us as the sum of our faults. He sees us as His children, and loves us in spite of everything. Of course we need to constantly strive to become more perfect, but President Eyring's message reminded me how important it is to see our true worth as we work down that path.

Becoming Perfect (3/29/2010)

As we were discussing the Savior in our Gospel Essentials lesson yesterday, I had an idea that had never crossed my mind. When Jesus was on the Earth, He had mortal attributes which came from His mother as well as immortal attributes which came from His Father. This gave Christ the ability to choose everything for Himself, so when He fasted for 40 days, even though His mortal side must have truly felt the effects of that ordeal, He was able to live because His life was His alone to give up. Satan, of course, appealed to the mortal pains that Jesus felt, but He was able to overcome those temptations and become the perfect individual that was required to make an Atoning Sacrifice for all of our Father in Heaven's children.

This realization led me to several thoughts, two of which I would like to share. The first of these thoughts is that because the Savior suffered temptation beyond what we could bear, He understands what we are going through. No matter how hard the road seems, we can always turn to the One who has felt as we do, and who truly understands us. The other idea I would like to share is that we too have a spiritual side to counter our mortal side. I will be the first to acknowledge that allowing our spirit to master our mortal body can be an immense challenge, yet if we look to the example laid out by the Savior and rely on Him to help us along our path to perfection, we too can daily become more as He is. (see 3 Nephi 18:11-15)

Doing (3/24/2010)

"There is but one path of safety to the Latter-day Saints, and that is the path of duty. It is not testimony, it is not marvelous manifestations, it is not knowing that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true,... it is not actually knowing that the Savior is the Redeemer, and that Joseph Smith was His prophet, that will save you and me, but it is the keeping of the commandments of God, the living the life of a Latter-day Saint." -President Heber J. Grant

When I read President Grant's quote, it struck me as being simple yet deeply true. If one has matches and wood and tinder, it will never make a fire unless someone assembles the materials and strikes the match. Having a recipe, flour, sugar, and eggs will never make a cake unless I put the ingredients in the mixer and prepare the recipe as directed. The same can be said of the Gospel - as important as it is to have a testimony of Jesus Christ and His Gospel, the thing that will ultimately help us is to live as we have been taught.

Optimism (3/18/2010)

Today, I would like to share a brief thought from President Gordon B. Hinckley about the attitude that will make our lives more enjoyable:

"I come with a plea that we stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. I'm suggesting that we accentuate the positive. I'm asking that we look a little deeper for the good, that we still our voices of insult and sarcasm, that we more generously compliment virtue and effort.

"Let our faith replace our fears. When I was a boy, my father often said to us, 'Cynics do not contribute, skeptics do not create, doubters do not achieve.'"

Building Spiritual Strength (3/17/2010)

In my thought yesterday, I talked about the idea that our Father in Heaven will never test us beyond that which we are able to bear. This was witnessed in Nephi's confidence when he was sent to retrieve the Brass Plates. Instead of asking why and giving the thousand excuses about why it couldn't be done, he simply replied that he would go do it and trust that because the Lord had commanded it, the Lord would make it happen. Was it an easy task? Absolutely not. It cost Nephi and his brothers their worldly wealth. It almost cost them their lives. But in the end, through persistence and faith, Nephi was able to get the scriptures that kept his descendants on the right path (more or less) for the next 1000 years.

I thought some more about this in the context of a trainer at the gym. When one works out with a trainer, I doubt that after 5 minutes on the treadmill they will hear "Great! Now let's go to the snack bar and get a smoothie!" At least in my experience, the trainer will push you as far as you can go, then when you decide that your body can take no more, they yell at you to keep going. The reason they do that is because not only can your body take it, that is the time when the most beneficial training occurs. That extra time is when you gain the most strength and endurance.

The same can be said of our spiritual fitness. It may be easy to say our prayers, to go to church every week. But are we being the missionary we should be? Are we the home teacher or visiting teacher that is making the effort to do more than the once-monthly visit? There are so many ways that we can serve in the Gospel, and as we step outside ourselves and truly lengthen our stride as President Kimball admonished us, we will be able to grow in ways we never imagined possible.

Perfection (3/16/2010)

I heard a quote from Elder Neal A. Maxwell recently that really made me think:

"The scriptures concerning life's purposes do make it clear that we are to become like the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ: 'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect' (Matthew 5:48). 'Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.' (3 Nephi 12:48) 'Therefore, what manner of men [and women] ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.' (3 Nephi 27:27)"

Perfection is one of those things that I always question whether I will be able to attain. I see all of my shortcomings and realize that there are many times when I am about as far away from the Savior as I could be. Yet this quote reminded me that the Lord will never give us any commandment that we cannot fulfill. (see 1 Nephi 3:7) His goal is for us to succeed, to overcome the obstacles that we will encounter in this life, and as long as we seek His help, we are sure to succeed.

The Book of Mormon (3/9/2010)

"Do eternal consequences rest upon our response to this book? Yes, either to our blessing or our condemnation.

"Every Latter-day Saint should make the study of this book a lifetime pursuit. Otherwise he is placing his soul in jeopardy and neglecting that which could give spiritual and intellectual unity to his whole life. There is a difference between a convert who is built on the rock of Christ through the Book of Mormon and stays hold of that iron rod, and one who is not."

- President Ezra Taft Benson

I love to read. Especially when my kids come home with a new book, I like to see what they are reading and have been known to read several hundred pages over the course of a week in just the few minutes I can muster here and there. When I saw this quote, however, I realized that more than a few minutes every day should be spent studying the Book of Mormon. Making a study of the book is more than just reading the obligatory chapter daily. It is prayerfully reading it and seeing how we can apply the things we read in our lives. Only then can this Book help draw us nearer to our Father in Heaven and realize our full potential.

Loving Ourselves (3/4/2010)

In the movie "Groundhog Day," the main character is accused by the girl whose affection he is trying to win of never being able to love anyone but himself. His reply? "That's not true. I don't even like myself!" Even though his reply is good for a laugh, I think that there are many people who feel this way. In a talk, President Faust suggested a way to work through this all-too-common feeling.

"The commandment given by the Savior was to love others and yourself.
Am I secure enough in my love of myself to laugh at myself, to admit my mistakes, to graciously accept a compliment? Am I secure in my love of others to smile and say hello to a perfect stranger?

"Years ago in seminary our class was taught:

"I have to live with myself, and so
I want to be fit for myself to know.
I want to go out with my head erect.
I want to demand all men's respect.
I never can hide myself from me;
I see what others may never see.
I can never fool myself, and so,
Whatever happens, I want to be
Self-respecting and conscience free!"

A Sure Foundation (3/3/2010)

I was conversing with a friend in my ward last night about some of the people who had become less active over the past year or so, including one who had previously served in a bishopric. Each of these individuals had reasons for their inactivity, and a common them was that someone had said or done something to offend them. While I believe that I am strong (or ambivalent) enough to avoid this pitfall, it is important to take the advice that Helaman gave to his sons Nephi and Lehi:

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." (Helaman 5:12)

Satan will use whatever tactic he can to lure people away from the Church. While this is not news to anyone, I think that this is an important reminder to strengthen ourselves now so that when the time comes that we are tempted to drift away, we will be able to withstand it with our Savior's help.

Finding Peace (3/1/2010)

One of the things that people often seek in this world is peace. The problem to me seems that they are looking for it in all the wrong places. They want to continue living the life that the natural man says they should live, but then they hope to reap the dividends of peace and a good life. Unfortunately for them, as the prophets have told us, wickedness will not bring happiness. (see Alma 41:10) This morning, I would like to share a thought from President Eyring on this topic.

"God has told us through his servants, the road to travel to find peace. No road leads to peace, for a person or for the world, unless it leads away from the effects of sin and Satan. Satan has always taught men and women to take what they want by taking life. I like the forthright way John Taylor, a president of the Church in this dispensation, gave us the direction to follow. He said:

"'Peace is the gift of God. Do you want peace? Go to God. Do you want peace in your families? Go to God. Do you want peace to brood over your families? If you do, live your religion, and the very peace of God will dwell and abide with you, for that is where peace comes from, and it doesn't dwell anywhere else.'"

The Way to Happiness (2/24/2010)

The years after Christ visited the people in the Americas had to have been a wonderful time to live. It is recorded of this time:

"And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people. And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God. There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God." (4 Nephi 1:15-17)

When I read these verses, the thing I take from it is that everyone truly loved their neighbor. All of the sins that were not present in these years are sins, I believe, that come from the individual worrying more about themselves than they do about others. When people take the time to care about others, however, those sins and all their negative consequences abate, and people can be truly happy.

Outward Appearances (2/23/2010)

Last week I was preparing some potatoes for baking to go along with our dinner. As I scrubbed them and cut off the blemishes, I found one large potato with a small blemish. When I removed the blemish, however, the potato split in my hand and I discovered that the entire center of it was rotten. Had I not taken the time to remove this blemish, it would have been too late before we realized that someone would be without a potato to accompany their dinner.

It reminded me of the story of David, and how Samuel felt that there was no way that David was suited to be king. "But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

Even though I know that most, if not all, are familiar with this story, the potato served as a good reminder that I need to rely less on outward appearances and try to discover the good that lies within others. Better stated, it took a potato to remind me that I need to do a better job of practicing the principle of looking beyond what I see and focusing on who an individual really is.

Inspiration (2/22/2010)

As baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ, we have been given the gift of the Holy Ghost. This unique gift allows us to receive inspiration in all that we do when we are living in accordance with the principles of the Gospel. This morning, I would like to share with you a quote from President Marion G. Romney of specific things we can do to have the Spirit with us.

"If you want to obtain and keep the guidance of the Spirit, you can do so by following this simple four-point program.

"One, pray. Pray diligently. Pray with each other. Pray in public in the proper places... Learn to talk to the Lord; call upon his name in great faith and confidence.

"Second, study and learn the gospel.

"Third, live righteously; repent of your sins by confessing them and forsaking them. Then conform to the teachings of the gospel.

"Fourth, give service in the Church...

"If you will do these things, you will get the guidance of the Holy Spirit and you will go through this world successfully, regardless of what the people of the world say or do."

Choices (2/17/2010)

Last night, I played a game that I recently purchased with my children. It is called "Blokus," and the objective of the game is to lay as many of your different shaped pieces on the board and prevent your opponents from laying theirs down. The strategy I employed was to lay down my largest and most strangely shaped pieces first so that my smaller and more conventional shaped pieces would be left as the board filled up. My children, however, did not quite grasp this strategy, so as the game progressed I still had pieces to play after they had run out of options.

This game made for an easy transition into a discussion about choices. Most individual choices we make will have little to no impact at the moment in which they are made, but with each additional decision made, the aggregate effect is one of establishing patterns that direct what future choices we make. In the case of the game, using the easy pieces first left my children with difficult choices to make later on, and in the end it meant that there were pieces they were unable to play.

In life, the choices we make on a small scale largely help shape the more critical decisions we will have to make. In other words, making the correct choice at the moment of crisis will be far easier if we have made a thousand smaller decisions to choose the right before that time. So while it was just a game we were playing last night, it helped me teach my children a much more valuable lesson about character and the importance of each decision, no matter how small.

You Are Important (2/16/2010)

This past weekend, I had an idea that I have had before, though the magnitude of it really struck me this time around. In the scriptures, it is revealed to us that our Heavenly Father has created "worlds without number." (see Moses 1:33,35) When He explained to Moses that He has created so many worlds and heavens that they are innumerable to man, that really made me stop and think.

In this history of this Earth, experts believe that roughly 100 billion people have lived here. Now, if I take that number and multiply it by even a comparatively paltry 10,000 (a number to which I believe I could count) worlds, and if each of those worlds has had a similar number of individuals on them, that would mean that our Father in Heaven has an unfathomable amount of children. But the greatest miracle to me in all of that is that with so many children my Father in Heaven is still mindful of me, one of His children, and provides for my every need and many of my wants.

I will testify to you without a doubt that God lives, and I know from my personal experience that He loves each of us and is aware of our needs. He goes on in Moses 1:35 to state that "all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them." Christ expanded on that thought when he told his disciples that the Father is aware of even the sparrows, and that our value to Him is greater than that. When I consider all the other things upon which our Father in Heaven needs to focus, I find the attention and love He gives us to be an absolutely fabulous miracle.

Love (2/12/2010)

"There are many sources of power in the world. Recently we have been concerned with the shortages of some of those sources. But to me the greatest power of all is the power of love. I refer to love as proclaimed by the Savior in Matthew: 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind' (Matthew 22:37) and 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.' (Matthew 22:39) The development of this power to love God and fellowmen is, to me, the greatest power that one may possess here upon the earth. The power of love is the power by which great leaders lead. The power of love is the power by which great teachers teach. The power of love is the power by which one may achieve true accomplishment." - Elder Russell M. Nelson

In a world where there is so much focus on the individual and so much emphasis on immediate gratification, Elder Nelson's words show the only way to true happiness. As we love our Father and follow His commandments, joy comes into our lives. As we learn to love and serve our neighbors, that joy increases. When the trite happiness that comes from the selfishness the world advocates is held up against the joy that comes from service and obedience, it quickly becomes evident that there is a real and lasting difference.

Agency (2/10/2010)

This past Sunday, the Gospel Principles lesson we discussed was lesson 4, "Freedom to Choose." They used an analogy in the lesson that I shared with my children this week in Family Home Evening and wanted to share with you today:

"Imagine seeing a sign on the seashore that reads: 'Danger—whirlpool. No swimming allowed here.' We might think that is a restriction. But is it? We still have many choices. We are free to swim somewhere else. We are free to walk along the beach and pick up seashells. We are free to watch the sunset. We are free to go home. We are also free to ignore the sign and swim in the dangerous place. But once the whirlpool has us in its grasp and we are pulled under, we have very few choices. We can try to escape, or we can call for help, but we may drown."

With the diagnosis of my daughter, there has been a lot of discussion about my wife's father who also had diabetes. He was 15 years old when he was diagnosed, and he fought his parents and the doctors about the restrictions they were placing on him. His mother says that his attitude was one of "If my friends are going for burgers and shakes, then so am I," regardless of the potential harm it would cause his body. Now I am not entirely familiar with all of the medical causes behind his early death, but I have to wonder if he had chosen to take the advice of the doctors if he would have been able to be there when I married his daughter.

Agency is a great gift in that allows us to choose what path we will take. Unfortunately, we are not allowed to choose the consequences of our actions, so we must be careful and heed the commandments, as illustrated in the whirlpool example. The best part of having our agency, however, is that it will allow us to one day feel the satisfaction that will come when we recognize that we have attained perfection through our own good choices.

Finding Blessings in Adversity (2/9/2009)

I would first like to thank those of you who sent kind words and prayers. Just so you know, my daughter is doing fine (in fact were it not for the medical tests, there would really have been no way to know that she was ill). We are still working to understand what it will take to work with her diabetes, but for now things are going well.

One of the thoughts that keeps coming to mind for me with this new trial in our lives is that we will not be given anything beyond what we can bear. The scriptures tell us that our temptations will not be more than we can overcome (see 1 Corinthians 10:13, Alma 13:28), and based on my observations of the past few weeks, I believe the same is true of the challenges we face.

Above all, I have been able to see blessings in all of this. This probably sounds strange, as I think all parents would want their children to go through life unscathed, but where this did happen to my daughter, I think that there is good in the way that it happened. We caught it early, so the chance of the diabetes doing further damage to her has been minimized as long as we maintain it. Another blessing is her age. Had this happened to my 15 year old or my 13 year old, I am sure that it would be much more difficult for them to grapple with changing their lives, where my daughter's young age of 4 means that she will not require overcoming years of habits. She is also exceptionally bright and has a personality that will not let her quit, so I think that all of these things work in her favor.

It seems strange in the face of this diagnosis to speak of blessings, but again, knowing that we can overcome any trial with the help of our Father in Heaven has helped me to see that there is still much for which I have to be thankful.

Update (1/28/2009)

I would like to apologize for the lack of a thought this week. My four year old daughter was diagnosed this past weekend with type 1 diabetes, and she has been at Primary Children's Hospital up until late last night, and today I am trying to wrap my arms around how life at home will be which does not leave a whole lot of time for much else. That, coupled with the fact that I am traveling on business next week, will probably prevent me from publishing a thought for the next week or two, so I just wanted to let you know. I have not abandoned you - I just need a little time to deal with life. :)

Thanks!

Paul

Children of God (1/21/2010)

Last night my daughter was interviewing me as part of a school project, and she asked me one thing that I would do to change the world. After some thought I replied that I would make it so everyone could understand everyone else's circumstances. I think that is one of the most difficult barriers we have to overcome. When we perceive another as being rude or inconsiderate of our feelings, there are probably other things going on in that individual's life that we may never know. If we had a more intimate understanding of the trials of others, however, we would likely be more empathetic when they react the way they do.

As the second lesson of the new Gospel Principles manual reminds us, we are all children of God, and each of us deserves to be treated as such. I hope that we can remember this when others are insensitive to our needs, and that we can treat everyone with whom we interact with kindness befitting a child of God.

The Things That Matter Most (1/20/2010)

In a speech back in 1978, Elder David B. Haight spoke of a regional conference where President Kimball spoke. "All of the General Authorities were also in attendance at this very solemn but historic assembly to receive instruction and counsel, 'to be built up in faith and testimony.', and to reaffirm to these Church leaders our mission: to assist in saving the souls of mankind and to focus on the things that matter most.

"In this comprehensive review of the Church's progress, we could sense again (President Kimball's) anxiety and concern for this work. We who are near our prophet sense his restlessness - because time is moving swiftly, and the world population is growing. But the keys of the kingdom and salvation are here and available to all. We - all of us here tonight - are His disciples."

In the world today, there are a million entertainments and diversions that will allure us from the path back to our Father in Heaven. When I read this speech, I was reminded of how important it is to focus on those things that matter most. All of the fun and amazing gadgets and software that fill our lives today will mean nothing when the time comes for us to be judged by our Father in Heaven. The questions we will have to answer then will deal with how we treated our fellow-man, and how faithful we have been in keeping the commandments. Regardless of how long it will be until our Savior comes again, hopefully the uncertainty of this life will encourage us to live each day anxiously engaged in the good cause.

The Things That Matter Most (1/20/2010)

In a speech back in 1978, Elder David B. Haight spoke of a regional conference where President Kimball spoke. "All of the General Authorities were also in attendance at this very solemn but historic assembly to receive instruction and counsel, 'to be built up in faith and testimony.', and to reaffirm to these Church leaders our mission: to assist in saving the souls of mankind and to focus on the things that matter most.

"In this comprehensive review of the Church's progress, we could sense again (President Kimball's) anxiety and concern for this work. We who are near our prophet sense his restlessness - because time is moving swiftly, and the world population is growing. But the keys of the kingdom and salvation are here and available to all. We - all of us here tonight - are His disciples."

In the world today, there are a million entertainments and diversions that will allure us from the path back to our Father in Heaven. When I read this speech, I was reminded of how important it is to focus on those things that matter most. All of the fun and amazing gadgets and software that fill our lives today will mean nothing when the time comes for us to be judged by our Father in Heaven. The questions we will have to answer then will deal with how we treated our fellow-man, and how faithful we have been in keeping the commandments. Regardless of how long it will be until our Savior comes again, hopefully the uncertainty of this life will encourage us to live each day anxiously engaged in the good cause.

Doing Our Part (1/13/2010)

As Moroni wrote his dissertation on faith in Ether 12, he lamented the fact that those who would receive his words would discount them because of his weakness in writing. He prayed that we Gentiles would be willing to forgive him that weakness, when the Lord answered his prayer.

"And it came to pass that the Lord said unto me: If they have not charity it mattereth not unto thee, thou hast been faithful; wherefore, thy garments shall be made clean. And because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong, even unto the sitting down in the place which I have prepared in the mansions of my Father." (Ether 12:37)

Reading this verse with my family the other night, I was impressed that the Lord told Moroni that since he had done his part, he would be blessed. This led me to think how we, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ, have been instructed to share the Gospel with our family, friends, and neighbors. Too often I know that I worry about how people will perceive me if I start to talk to them about religion, but this verse reminded me that as long as I truly do my part, I will be blessed.

We do not know what goes on in the hearts of the people with whom we associate (see 1 Samuel 16:7), and it just might be that someone we know needs what we have to offer. With that in mind, I hope that we will be more diligent in our missionary efforts.

Miracles (1/8/2010)

"Never lose faith in yourselves or in your capacity to do worthwhile things. And call upon the Lord for help that your minds may be enlightened and your understanding quickened. Then go to work with that assurance inside of you that somehow you can do it." - President Gordon B. Hinckley

I love this quote from President Hinckley because it reminds me that a miracle is not usually a one-sided event. When we require something in our lives, we should certainly call upon our Father in Heaven to give us according to our needs. Once we have done that, however, it is up to us to get up and do something to address that need. This part of our eternal existence gives us the chance to learn and to grow to become more like our Father in Heaven. If we were to allow Him to do everything for us, we would not be able to extend ourselves and achieve the growth that we wanted to achieve when we chose to come here, so through our efforts - with His help - miracles can happen every day.

The Whole Picture (1/7/2010)

Last Saturday, our family took a day trip. Because we have a two year old and a four year old, we used the VCR in our Suburban to play Disney movies to help fill the time between home and our destination. Since the audio plays through the stereo speakers in the car, it was interesting to listen to the movie Cinderella without actually being able to watch it. I noted how much of the movie was just music and sound effects, something that had never come to my attention while watching the animation. Without the pictures, the story made far less sense, and would not have kept my attention if the audio was all I could rely on.

For whatever reason, this got me thinking about how in Nephi's vision, the angel explained how many "plain and precious parts of the Gospel" had been removed by the great and abominable church. (see 1 Nephi 13:26-40) So while many people in the world have parts of Christ's word to help them, they are not able to see the whole picture. And just like I would not have been able to understand the whole movie my children were watching had I not seen it before, it must be difficult for these individuals to grasp what our Father in Heaven intends for us. This is just one reason of many why I am thankful that Joseph Smith restored The Church of Jesus Christ in these last days, and why I am grateful for ongoing revelation today.

Relationships (1/5/2010)

In Ether 9, we read about how several individuals fought over becoming king. First Jared sought to gain the throne by killing Omer, his father. Omer was warned by the Lord, however, so he escaped and Jared took power. Once he was in power, his son in law Akish - the same one Jared had enlisted to kill Omer - killed Jared and he took over. He then locked away his son and starved him to death, possibly because he was afraid that his son would try and kill him to gain power. However, another one of Akish's sons, Nimrah, was upset at this filicide and organized the rest of the family and other members of the kingdom which led to a war that almost entirely eliminated the people living there.

I tell you this account to illustrate a point that occurred to me when reading this yesterday. Satan has one goal - to make all of us as miserable as he is. (see 2 Nephi 2:27) To achieve this goal, he will make people all sorts of promises he has no intention of keeping, and ultimately, he will make sure that people tear each down over things of no eternal consequence.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ, on the other hand, has us build each other up as we work towards a common goal of eternal life. The fact that one person gains eternal life does not prohibit another from gaining the same gift, and in fact as we help each other work towards that goal, we become stronger and forge relationships that can last throughout the eternities, something far greater than the counterfeit relationships that Satan encourages.

Adversity (1/4/2010)

"We all will have adversity; it is a part of life. We will all have it because we need it for growth and the forging of our righteous character. I have learned that the Lord has a consummate capacity to judge our intent. He is concerned about what we are becoming by the choices we make. He has an individual plan for each of us. This concept is very comforting when we consider how to understand difficult matters such as the early death of someone who seems to be so needed on earth. It is most helpful when we struggle with illness or a severe handicap." - Elder Richard G. Scott

One of the things I cannot understand is how some individuals believe that there is no design or reason to what happens here on Earth. I would think that those people who subscribe to this chaos theory have no reason to hope for anything. Understanding, however, that the events of our lives are part of a larger plan somehow makes it easier to accept them. I remember when my mother passed away, it was not easy - I think that losing a loved one is a challenge for even the best of us - but knowing that I had hope to see her again after this life was of great comfort.

All of us will face adversity in this life regardless of our personal righteousness. As long as we can use this adversity as a chance to grow and become stronger instead of letting it defeat us, we will be able to look back at some future time and see how our trials have made us stronger and drawn us closer to our Father in Heaven.